18A:4A-1. Findings, declarations

1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. During the period from 1933 to 1945, six million Jews and millions of other Europeans were murdered in Nazi concentration camps as part of a carefully orchestrated program of cultural, social and political genocide known as the Holocaust;

b. All people should remember the horrible atrocities committed at that time and other times in human history as the result of bigotry and tyranny and, therefore, should continually rededicate themselves to the principles of human rights and equal protection under the laws of a democratic society;

c. It is desirable to educate our citizens about the events leading up to the Holocaust and about the organizations and facilities that were created and used purposefully for the systematic destruction of human beings;

d. It is the policy of the State of New Jersey that Holocaust history is the proper concern of all people, particularly students enrolled in the schools of the State of New Jersey;

e. The New Jersey Department of Education, in conjunction with the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, the New Jersey Education Association, and the New Jersey Council for Social Studies, has developed a curriculum, entitled "The Holocaust and Genocide: A Search for Conscience," which has been implemented in courses of study on a trial basis in Vineland and Teaneck and, subsequently, in other communities;

f. Programs, workshops, institutes, seminars, and other teacher-training activities for the study of the Holocaust have taken place during recent years at various high schools and colleges in the State of New Jersey; and

g. It is desirable to create a State-level commission, which as an organized body, on a continuous basis, will survey, design, encourage, and promote implementation of Holocaust education and awareness programs in New Jersey and shall be responsible for the coordination of events that will provide appropriate memorialization of the Holocaust, on a regular basis, throughout the State.

L.1991,c.193,s.1.